![]() I run balanced sets of electronics (Coda & SPL) in my reference system. The DAC used in this system was the 2.1x Signature, which retails for $6,664, and piqued my interest to hear and review the next level DAC3.1/II Balanced, which is priced at $12,068. ![]() However, the beauty of the tonality and spaciousness that just effortlessly poured out of these corner-loaded speakers was an even bigger sonic treat. Based on my past experiences with complete Audio Note systems, I knew I was in for a sonic treat. Well, my dear friend Mike Kay, owner of Audio Archon, which carries some of the highest regarded lines on the market today, invited me over to hear what he calls his "baby" all-Audio Note (UK) system. I was, as they say, "DAC-ed out" and decided that it would be quite a while before I would review another digital piece. I sang its praises in a previous Stereo Times review. The one exception was the wonderfully musical and beautifully built Bricasti Design M3 DAC based on a Sigma Delta design. My favorite DACs also use tubes in the analog conversion section and are tube rectified in the power supply. After this lengthy experience, I concluded that Sigma Delta technology used in current DAC chips does not sound as natural and musical as resistor ladder technology (R-2R). Two of these DACs (which will remain anonymous) had received rave reviews and were in the upper stratosphere regarding price, which turned out to be my least favorite (and I declined to write a professional review about them). These units have ranged in price from $1,000 up to $45,000. I've been on an odyssey the last three years when considering how many DACs (twelve in total) I have had in-house for review. I wish you all the best in your search as well./wp-content/forum-smileys/ I find some LZ at a good price I will let you know.Audio Note DAC3.1x/II Balanced by Terry London One thing I like from LampZ is that every level you push does not mean to pay 3-7 times the previous level. Lamp L4 and so on seems a very good option but I don´t know if its usb input is as good as Auralic´s so maybe you should get a good spdif converter, Obviously, L6 is top dog mate.actually there is a new L7. I mean, in my setup, it is nonsense to spend twice in DAC than in an AMP or Speakers, so in my case I will stay in the 3k Eur budget for DAC. Meitner/EMM is also a very very good device but it is a little pricy, and on the other hand I believe that a coherence must be kept throughout your system. Hex is taking the octave design to the paroxysm, it should be a great device, but I have read that Hex is much much better through its balanced output and I can only use single ended. Yes, actually seller only ships within the United States and Canada but may be you could get to an arrange, you know, fresh cash is always temptating./wp-content/forum-smileys/sf-wink.gif Kinda sorry in some ways I didn't take the risk and buy but Lampizator's have caught my eye so putting the coppers in the piggybank instead. NOS dac well worth a punt as you will always be able to sell it on. I would love to trial it at home but that will not happen. After it the costs increase substantially for what they report is marginal improvements. The 2.1x sig is well regarded especially in the UK and to quote comments from 4.1x owners it is the sweet spot in the audio note range. ![]() Also wonder is the audio note dac vision dated and fixed in a time that is now 10yrs ago.This is just my worry/opinion and maybe way off base. The hesitancy for me was the requirement for a spdif converter and also the fact it only plays max 24/96 and truncates 24 to 18bit. One system was in a terrible room the other lad was playing vinyl when I visited that room. Unfortunately well for me anyway both systems were using CDP's as transports (one lad a Pioneer and the other an audionote cdp(should have put more effort into hearing that) Kinda gave up because I wanted to use music was used to. Was interested in buying one and one sold recently on the hifiwigwam site for £1100. Went with sligolad who brought his meitner/ESL63's and Zuma pc. An enthusiast's show were people bring their own gear. Heard 2 of them! recently at the Scalford Show in the UK.
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